37/29. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4124 — The Slain Person's Intention
The Prohibition of Killing
Hadith on Murderous Intent: Why the Slain Fighter Is Warned
Sunan an-Nasai : 4124
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4124
أَخْبَرَنَا مُجَاهِدُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ - عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا تَوَاجَهَ الْمُسْلِمَانِ بِسَيْفَيْهِمَا فَقَتَلَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ فَالْقَاتِلُ وَالْمَقْتُولُ فِي النَّارِ " . قَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا الْقَاتِلُ فَمَا بَالُ الْمَقْتُولِ قَالَ " إِنَّهُ أَرَادَ قَتْلَ صَاحِبِهِ " .
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "If two Muslims confront each other with swords and one of them kills the other, then the killer and the slain will both be in Hell." A man said: "O Messenger of Allah, (we understand about) the killer, but what about the one who is killed?" He said: "He wanted to kill his companion."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4124In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 159English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4129
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4124
This hadith on murderous intent reports the same severe warning through Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari. The Messenger of Allah says that if two Muslims confront each other with swords and one kills the other, both the killer and the slain will be in Hell. A man asks about the slain person, since the reason for the killer seems clear. The Prophet answers that the slain person wanted to kill his companion. The hadith makes the inner aim of the second fighter part of the judgment described in the text. He did not carry out the killing, but he entered the confrontation wanting it. The clear lesson is to remove the desire for deadly revenge and avoid armed conflict with a fellow Muslim.
What we learn from this hadith
- Wanting to kill a fellow Muslim carries serious blame.
- The warning covers the successful killer and the fighter who intended the same act.
- Questions about a hadith can lead to a clear explanation of its meaning.
- Avoid revenge that turns a dispute into deadly combat.
